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Today's links: Backcourt drives Michigan's ascent

With Indiana’s loss to Butler, it looks like there is a new “best” team in the Big Ten–at least for a week. Meet Michigan, which is a great starting point to begin my daily links.

This Michigan hoop team is good—really good. And a major reason for that is the backcourt, which could be the best in the nation. With Trey Burke dominating, Tim Hardaway, Jr., holds the key to how high the Wolverines can soar, says Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com.

No doubt, if Hardaway avoids any ugly shooting slumps, this will be a very difficult backcourt to defend—especially when you factor in sweet-shooting Nik Stauskas.

Still can’t get No. 1 Indiana’s stunning overtime loss to unranked-but-always-pesky Butler out of your head? Here’s more boffo analysis.

Indiana’s 88-86 overtime Crossroads Classic defeat in Indianapolis on Saturday exposed unexpected vulnerability, says Pete DiPrimio of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. The unranked Bulldogs staggered the Hoosiers (9-1) with 19 offensive boards and 27 second-chance points, punished them with physical play and, at the end, stunned them with crunch-time execution.

“There were a lot of things that went wrong,” Cody Zeller said. “We got out-rebounded. There were a lot of little things we need to figure out. We’ll get back to work and figure them out.”

Yes, the loss is painful for Indiana, but now is the time to solve problems. March is still over two months away. One game in December, actually, means little.

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While on the subject of hoops: The time is now for Purdue if it hopes to post a winning record in non-conference play—and perhaps salvage a season that already is careening out of control.

The Boilermakers can’t shoot—and are sloppy with the ball. Before time runs out on the season, Matt Painter may turn to a core of freshmen—Rapheal Davis, A.J. Hammons, Ronnie Johnson–for a spark, says Jeff Washburn of the Lafayette Journal-Courier. Why not? This Purdue team has nothing to lose and is headed nowhere fast with a 4-6 mark.

According to reports, Ferguson is expected to enroll in January and battle Steve Bench. Touted freshman Christian Hackenberg is expected to sign in February and begin practice in August. But filling the void left by Matt McGloin’s departure will be difficult.

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If you are scoring at home, that’s two four-star recruits that have ditched Iowa. Delano Hill is the latest, opting for a Michigan offer. In October, David Kenney de-committed and chose Indiana.

Marc Morehouse of the Cedar Rapids Gazette says this leaves Iowa and Minnesota as the only two programs in the Big Ten without at least one four-star recruit, according to Rivals.com. But, honestly, since when did Kirk Ferentz make a living signing ballyhooed recruits? Never. I have a feeling the Hawkeyes will be just fine.

By the way: Barker has landed at the University of Houston. Let’s all just move on, OK?

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For a team that won 10 games and a division title, there seems to be a bit of a negative vibe around Nebraska. Blame it on that ugly 70-31 loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. But Bo Pelini is telling his players to not apologize for the standout campaign.

Beat South Carolina, and all will be well. Yes, it’s that simple. Funny what a victory can do, isn’t it?

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The great Loren Tate of the Champaign News-Gazette is singing the “Expansion Blues.” Come on! Join in!

Tate’s lament: The inevitable loss of traditional football and basketball games. In football, Illinois should play neighbors Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Indiana and Purdue every year. These are close, long-term natural rivals. These are the games that the fans want to see. These five should never be off the Illinois football schedule.

But that could be largely washed away with expansion and subsequently division realignment. Tate, of course, is correct. But nothing stands in the way of change. In fact, this expansion explosion of recent years hearkens to the old phrase: “Change, or perish.”

BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men’s basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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